Letter from John Fess 11-12-08
John S. Fess
Christmas Lake
6280 Ridge Road
Chanhassen, MN 55317
952-474-0045
November 12, 2008
City of Chanhassen
Planning Commission
7700 Market Blvd.
P. O. Box 147
Chanhassen MN 55317
Dear Planning Commission:
This letter is in response to a request for a variance at 6250 Ridge Road, Case Number 8-23, for
an out building and deck on the shore of Christmas Lake.
Please let me introduce myself. My name is Jack Fess and I live three lakeshore properties
south, or within 500 lakeshore feet of the proposed variance request. I purchased a similar lot in
1982 with almost equal lake front, with an almost equal bluff overlooking the lake, and an
irregular lot relative to street frontage and side property lines. In fact, of the seven lakeshore
homes on the Chanhassen portion of Ridge Road, all properties are on a bluff and all properties
are irregular.
I have been a long-time member of the Christmas Lake Homeowners' Association for 28 years
and a board member for our association for over ten years. I have also been involved in
countless lakeshore management meetings put on by city and state agencies relative to
Christmas Lake. The goal of each and every meeting is to convince all homeowners that natural
vegetation at the lakeshore is critically important for the long-term well being of our lakes.
The cities of Shorewood and Chanhassen and their staffs, along with the Minnesota DNR and our
local governing county watershed districts, have spent countless time and money trying to
preserve the natural setting of our lakeshore. '
If one looks at the 21 lakeshore homes on Christmas Lake in the City of Chanhassen, one will see
that they are all different and, without exception, decks of any type, whether ground or elevated
DO NOT EXIST near the bluff or anywhere near the high water mark of lakeshore property. I
only know of one exception, which is close to the property in question, and which was
constructed in the last six years; whether a Chanhassen building permit was obtained is
unknown.
It is my understanding that at this property, 6250 Ridge Road, a Chanhassen building permit was
not in existence during the time of construction, during late September and into October.
City of Chanhassen Planning Commission
November 12, 2008
Page 2
It is my position, as a neighbor and as a board member of the Christmas Lake Homeowners'
Association, that no variance whatsoever be granted and that the homeowner be forced to
conform to all rules and regulations as it relates to lakeshore structures, lot lines and bluff
restrictions in the City of Chanhassen. J
Every property owner is entitled to build according to city building codes, and I am deeply
depressed that one of my neighbors would build any lakeshore structure without first contacting
the city for proper guidelines, purchasing a building permit and meeting all city lakeshore codes.
This example of a lakeshore homeowner not following city regulations and building codes is
exactly why our lakeshore has been altered over the years and our local lakes are in distress.
In looking over the application for a variance, the homeowner uses examples of not being able to
use 80% of their lakeshore. They do not tell you that this home was listed for $2.2 million when
they arrived from Europe and that the previous owner professionally paid for lakefront rock and
professionallakefront landscaping the previous year. This property and the bluff are no different
than their neighbors' properties. There is plenty of room to construct according to city building
codes.
Thank you for your consideration.
"!eIY., () '-I!!.
~ 1;2W
/J,ack Fess
. ,
/;6280 Ridge Road
Deanne Sheeley
6280 Ridge Road